1998 Land Rover Range/Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,560 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Land Rover Range/Rover, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 77.2% was above the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.8% in the 150k+ group versus 13.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.9% | 450 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 424 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 413 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 393 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 265 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 228 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 332 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 284 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 208 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 206 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 180 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 150 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 30.4% | 1,387 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.1% | 1,235 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.9% | 1,133 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 806 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.1% | 733 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.5% | 617 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 44 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 134 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 445 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 926 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,236 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,738 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,350 | 22.8% |
| Petrol | 2,206 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,242 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 1,054 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 908 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 743 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 613 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Range/Rover
Before buying a 1998 Land Rover Range/Rover, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 9.9% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (9.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Land Rover Range/Rovers pass their MOT?
77.2% of the 4,560 1998 Land Rover Range/Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Land Rover Range/Rover?
Brakes, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 1998 Range/Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,560 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.